BlizzCon 2016: Overwatch Panel

This BlizzCon is a major milestone for Overwatch: it's the first BlizzCon where the game has been live!

A hit out of the gates, all fans are curious to see what's next for Overwatch. Luckily, this panel didn't hold any punches. From a breakdown of the newest champion Sombra to new game modes through the Arcade, there's a ton of content. In other exciting news, Blizzard also announced today they will be supporting esports heavily, creating the Overwatch League where professional players will get salaries and other stability as they compete similar to Riot's LCS program.

BlizzCon 2016 Contest

Every comment you leave on any BlizzCon 2016 post is entering you to win prizes like a Murloc Costume. As long as you don't spam, each comment only increases your chances to win by giving you another entry. Read more here--we have several awesome prizes to give out all weekend.

Sombra

Sombra's BackstorySombra is 30 years old

She came from the Omnicrisis event in Mexico where the war destroyed much of country's infrastructure

She became a hacker to survive as a kid, stealing money to get by in a war-torn Mexico

The Soldier 76 short, "Hero," first introduced the revolutionary group that took Sombra in as a child: Los Muertos

Sombra discovered a conspiracy in the heart of the events of Mexico--unfortunately it backfired on her, she was overconfident, and she had to go underground where she augmented herself to become part computer

At this point she joined Talon where she currently works

Sombra is a perfect example of an unreliable narrator, who is a shade of gray: she's not black and white, she's meant to be mysterious

Concept Art

Sombra started out with the idea of a throwing dagger/knives hero. Eventually the cyberpunk aesthetic was tried and it was a hit internally:

She was supposed to be very agile, stealthy: flashy

Sombra Legendary Skins

Legendary skin preview: Los Muertos Sombra

Legendary skin preview: Cyberspace Sombra

Sombra Playstyle & Kit

Initially wanted to make a stealth champion that backstabbed, but found it didn't work out (negative user feedback)

She has a machine pistol similar to Mercy and Tracer's

Her alternate fire is hack, where she can hack players and health packs as well as turrets

Hacking has a skill cap, as you have to know who to hack and when (hacking a Soldier 76 should be more powerful, for example)

Thermoptic Camo: Sombra goes completely invisible to the enemy. If she takes any damage, she is broken out immediately.

Translocator: Like a grenade, throw it and it sticks to the ground. Lasts for 15 seconds. Can teleport to that location. Can be thrown in the air.

EMP: Her ultimate applies hack to everyone. It also destroys all barriers and shields, making it devastating.

Opportunist: She automatically detects opponents half or less health through walls.

The Arcade

SummaryArcade is meant to be a bunch of game modes, curated over time: they don't know how frequently it will change

It's basically a re-imagined brawl where new game modes can be tried out and retired on a whim

Rewards

Whenever you play a new game mode, you will get a free loot box for the first time you try it out

The arcade will have a weekly reward system: every 3 wins, you get a loot box. It goes on cooldown after 9 wins, so you can earn a total of 3 loot boxes a week from the arcade.

You can play any mode in the arcade, so you can mix & match or just grind one out!

Modes

Mystery duel: There's always a desire to have a 1v1, to test your skill against someone else. This is a best of 9, whomever gets to 5 wins first wins. Each round the game selects a random hero and you have to fight each other to the death, you both play the same opponent!

Eco Point Antarctica: A smaller map designed for 1v1 and 3v3 play. It's the homebase for Mei, providing her with story background. It will be a best of 5. You can group up as a competitive or you can queue solo. Once you pick a hero, you are locked in for the round! It is an elimination round, once you die: you die.

No Limits: Quick play is no longer going to allow more than one of a hero, no limit will be a mode that will allow people to hero stack if they want to.

All Brawls: A playlist of brawls. There will always be a static selection of brawls to cycle through, has the old brawls people liked (like Pharah vs Mercy, etc) There will be new brawls, like "This is Illiyos" where you play as Roadhog vs Lucio only on the well map!

New Map: Oasis

SummaryKing of the Hill map

Will feature Overwatch's first jump pad

Set in the Arabian desert in the Middle East

Oasis was founded by advanced scientists as a testament to the ingenuity of humanity

Comments

Comment by Ashesofalar

on 2016-11-04T18:12:08-05:00

I really should get into Overwatch more, these changes and even the game itself before looked fun i just didn't have the ability to play it, as i didn't have the money and didn't have the opportunity to really delve into the fandom of it but i think i will when i start my new job and everything.

Comment by Westy543

on 2016-11-04T18:20:41-05:00

Sombra is awesome. Super excited to have a stealth character, I loved spy in Team Fortress 2.

Comment by pwnix

on 2016-11-04T18:26:43-05:00

The Arcade seems like a lot of fun so does Sombra, finally a stealthy hero!

Comment by toothreaper

on 2016-11-04T18:37:28-05:00

Nice they finally gonna add 1v1.. Awesome!

Comment by Verosumatic

on 2016-11-04T18:40:21-05:00

I haven't played a lot of Overwatch, but Sombra seems like a really fun character to play. The name Sombra (Shadow) seems very fitting for a stealth-style character as well.

Comment by Andilyse

on 2016-11-04T18:44:10-05:00

Sombra seems like an amazingly fun and nuanced character that only gets better the more you learn her and her kit! This also makes me really excited about what could be in store for Overwatch and new heroes to come as she shows a pretty creative design that stretches what a character can do. Can't wait for them to start exploring what other ways they can push the limits on character design!

Comment by FuzzyDalvengyr

on 2016-11-04T18:44:44-05:00

can't

wait

amg

Comment by ArcticStudio

on 2016-11-04T18:48:19-05:00

Really enjoy the way overwatch is developing - it's good to see blizzard branch off of its typical genre of game. To be honest I was a bit hesitant about the whole FPS route, but it's become something completely fresh. I for one played a lot of cs in my day and transitioning between them is no problem at all. New heroes create a wave of euphoria - really enjoyable and can't wait to see the setups. Job well done blizzard yet again.

Comment by Odboyer

on 2016-11-04T18:55:07-05:00

Cant wait to see the wrench Sombra throws into the overwatch meta!

Comment by NildaHostar

on 2016-11-04T18:56:37-05:00

I can't be the only one who thinks that Sombra is somehow inspired by the Sombra Corporation from the Dark Tower series? This would make perfect sense, the only disturbing thing is that Sombra Corporation serves a very dangerous, disturbing and evil individual. Who will Sombra serve in Overwatch? Her own agenda?

Comment by midnightbasher

on 2016-11-04T19:00:36-05:00

soma looks fun

Comment by jjanchan

on 2016-11-04T19:18:13-05:00

I bought Overwatch for the WoW pet...it's one of the games I haven't tried yet. With the coming of the Overwatch League, it sounds like something I will be taking a look at!